How To Get Affordable State Sponsored Therapy in Nebraska
Many people don’t realize that publicly-funded mental health services are available in their state. People looking for free or low-cost counseling often think their only options are counselors in private practice and don’t know that publicly-funded providers in their communities may also offer counseling services.
While state-based programs are not for everyone, they’re often a great place to start for people who face geographic or financial barriers to therapy. Intake specialists at community mental health programs can help people learn whether they qualify for state-funded services and can refer people who don’t qualify to other low-cost programs that may be able to meet their needs.
On This Page
- When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
- Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in Nebraska?
- How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Nebraska?
- Region 1 (Panhandle) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 2 (Southwest Nebraska) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 3 (Central Nebraska) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 4 (Northern Nebraska) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 5 (Southeast Nebraska) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 6 (Omaha Metro) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- How Does North Dakota's Public Mental Health System Work?
When Should You Go to a State Mental Health Program?
Few private mental health providers are able to immediately serve people in crisis, while most state mental health agencies, including Nebraska’s, have crisis response systems that help people get mental health care quickly in an emergency. This usually makes public mental health services the best option if you’re having a mental health crisis and need help right away. The people who answer state crisis lines can provide caring attention and support as they help you determine the best response to a crisis, whether it’s inpatient treatment or an appointment with a counselor.
The state system offers many outpatient services. In addition to affordable therapy, publicly-funded mental health programs in Nebraska provide specialized and intensive services that aren’t available anywhere else or that are hard to find in private clinics, like case management, psychosocial rehabilitation, and day treatment programs. Consider going to a publicly-funded provider if you need intensive treatment, live in an area with limited mental health resources, or can’t access mental health care in the private sector due to your diagnosis or financial situation.
Who Is Eligible for Public Mental Health Services in Nebraska?
There are six regions in the public mental health system in Nebraska. Each region runs its mental health system a little differently. Some community mental health services in Nebraska are directly provided by regional or county governments, but most are provided by independent programs that contract with local governments to provide state-sponsored services. As a result, eligibility criteria vary widely from provider to provider and region to region in Nebraska.
Publicly-funded providers in Nebraska serve clients with a wide range of mental health concerns. At many programs, you are eligible for therapy as long as you live in one of the counties the program serves. However, in order to qualify for financial assistance to help pay for therapy, you need to meet both income and clinical eligibility criteria. You are required to use insurance if you have or qualify for insurance that covers mental health services. Most providers in the public system accept both private and public insurance plans.
Given the regional differences in Nebraska’s system, we recommend contacting the provider where you wish to receive services to find out if you are eligible. Many publicly-funded providers will give you free referrals to other providers if you don’t qualify for their services.
How Can You Find Out More About Local Programs in Nebraska?
The best way to find out whether you can get the services you need at a publicly-funded provider in Nebraska is to call your regional authority or the specific provider you are interested in. Each regional authority coordinates a network of programs that provide services for residents of their catchment areas.
There are six regional mental health authorities in Nebraska: Region 1 in the Panhandle, Region 2 in Southwest Nebraska, Region 3 in Central Nebraska, Region 4 in Northern Nebraska, Region 5 in Southeast Nebraska, and Region 6 in the Omaha metro area.
You can also call (402) 471-7860, the main number at the state Division of Behavioral Health, for general information about the Nebraska public mental health system.
We’ve listed numbers for Nebraska regional mental health authorities, regional crisis lines, and contracted service providers below. We got most of this information from listings on regional authority websites and the Nebraska Network of Care for Behavioral Health.
Not all providers listed in public care networks contract directly with the regional system, so it’s best to call and ask what services they offer, what they cost, and whether they provide financial assistance.
Region 1 (Panhandle) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 1 Behavioral Health Authority
- Serving Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Sheridan, Sioux, and Scotts Bluff Counties
- Main Number: (308) 635-3173
- Mental Health Crisis Line for Western Nebraska: (877) 492-7001
- Substance Abuse Crisis Line for Western Nebraska: (308) 762-7177
- Region 1 Behavioral Health Authority Locations:
- Alliance Office: (308) 633-7119
- Chadron Office: (308) 430-5014
- Oshkosh Office: (308) 633-2070
- Scottsbluff Office: (308) 635-3173
- Region 1 Network of Care Provider Listings
- Region 1 Official Service Provider Listings
- Region 1 Adult Outpatient Mental Health Providers:
- Cirrus House Outpatient Therapy Services (Scottsbluff): (308) 635-1488
- Community Action Health Center (Gering): (308) 633-5766
- Crossroads Resources, LLC (Chadron): (308) 432-3920
- Inspirit Counseling (Chadron and Alliance): (308) 430-1944
- Karuna Counseling (Sidney): (308) 249-7853
- Mental Health Alliance (Alliance, Scottsbluff, Chadron, Sidney, and Kimball): (308) 225-6572 or (866) 228-2636
- Options in Psychology, LLC (Alliance and Sidney): (308) 632-8547
- Regional West Behavioral Health Unit Day Programs (Scottsbluff): (308) 630-1500
- Regional West Physicians Clinic – Psychiatry and Behavioral Health (Scottsbluff): (308) 635-3888
- Western Community Health Resources (Chadron): (308) 747-2402
- Western Nebraska Behavioral Health (Rushville): (308) 327-2026
Region 2 (Southwest Nebraska) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region II Human Services
- Serving Arthur, Chase, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Gosper, Grant, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins, Red Willow, and Thomas Counties
- Main Number: (308) 534-0440
- Crisis Line: (877) 269-2079 or (877) 709-3351
- Region II Outpatient Mental Health Locations:
- North Platte Heartland Counseling and Consulting Clinic: (308) 534-6029
- McCook Heartland Counseling and Consulting Clinic: (308) 345-2770
- Ogallala Heartland Counseling and Consulting Clinic: (308) 284-6767
- Imperial Heartland Counseling and Consulting Clinic: (308) 882-4203
- Lexington Heartland Counseling and Consulting Clinic: (308) 324-6754
- Region 2 Network of Care Provider Listings
- Additional Region 2 Network Outpatient Mental Health Providers:
- Ogallala Counseling (Ogallala): (308) 284-6519
- Cornerstone Counseling (North Platte): (308) 534-9271
- Bridges Counseling Services (North Platte): (308) 532-3000
- Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (Lexington and North Platte): (308) 532-0587
- Child and Family Therapy Institute of Nebraska (North Platte): (308) 532-4940
- Lutheran Family Services Clifford L. Johnson Center (North Platte): (308) 532-0587
Region 3 (Central Nebraska) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 3 Behavioral Health Services
- Serving Adams, Blaine, Buffalo, Clay, Custer, Franklin, Furnas, Garfield, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Harlan, Howard, Kearney, Loup, Merrick, Nuckolls, Phelps, Valley, Sherman, Webster, and Wheeler Counties
- Main Number: (308) 237-5113 or (800) 321-4981
- Crisis Line for Buffalo, Furnas, Harlan, Kearney, and Phelps Counties: (308) 237-5951
- Crisis Line for Adams, Clay, Franklin, Nuckolls, and Webster Counties: (402) 463-5684
- Crisis Line for Blaine, Custer, Garfield, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Howard, Loup, Merrick, Sherman, Valley, and Wheeler Counties: (308) 380-5973
- Region 3 Network of Care Provider Listings
- Region 3 Network Provider Directory
- Region 3 Network Outpatient Mental Health Providers:
- Center for Psychological Services (Kearney): (308) 234-6029
- CHI Health Richard Young Outpatient Clinic (Kearney): (308) 865-2249
- Counseling Toward Hope (Kearney and Holdrege): (308) 995-6691
- Family Resources of Greater Nebraska (Grand Island, Kearney, York, and Broken Bow): (308) 381-7487
- Friendship House Outpatient Clinic (Grand Island): (308) 675-3342
- The Lanning Center for Behavioral Services (Hastings): (402) 463-7711
- Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (Grand Island): (308) 382-4255 (Veterans Only)
- Michael Burke and Associates (Kearney and St. Paul): (308) 234-5644
- Mid-Plains Center for Behavioral Healthcare Services:
- Crisis Line: (800) 515-3326
- Main Office (Grand Island): (308) 385-5250
- Kearney Office: (308) 627-6302
- Lincoln Office: (402) 261-9273
- South Central Behavioral Services:
- Kearney Outpatient Counseling Office: (308) 237-5951
- Hastings Outpatient Counseling Office: (402) 463-5684
- Holdrege Outpatient Counseling Office: (308) 237-5951
- Native American Mental Health Resources in Region 3:
- Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Behavioral Health (Lincoln): (402) 438-9222 (for members of the Ponca Tribe)
Region 4 (Northern Nebraska) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 4 Behavioral Health System
- Serving Antelope, Boone, Boyd, Brown, Burt, Cedar, Cherry, Colfax, Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Holt, Keya Paha, Knox, Madison, Nance, Pierce, Platte, Rock, Stanton, Thurston, and Wayne Counties
- Main Number: (402) 370-3100
- Crisis Line for Antelope, Cedar, Cuming, Knox, Madison, Pierce, and Stanton Counties: (888) 370-7003
- Crisis Line for Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Holt, Keya Paha, and Rock Counties: (877) 488-9928
- Crisis Line for Boone, Colfax, Platte, and Nance Counties: (866) 758-4749
- Crisis Line for Burt, Dakota, Dixon, Thurston, and Wayne Counties: (877) 958-7776
- Region 4 Network of Care Provider Listings
- Region 4 Region-Funded Service Provider Listings
- Region 4 Network Outpatient Mental Health Providers:
- A Better Way Therapy (South Sioux City): (712) 253-3925
- Behavioral Health Specialists, Inc. (Norfolk): (402) 370-3140
- Colegrove Counseling Center, LLC (Columbus): (402) 562-6767
- Counseling and Enrichment Center:
- O’Neill Office: (402) 336-4841
- Norfolk Office: (402) 992-1512
- Faith Regional Physician Services Psychiatry Clinic (Norfolk): (402) 644-7329
- Good Life Counseling and Support, LLC:
- Norfolk Office: (402) 371-3044
- Columbus Office: (402) 562-0400
- Atkinson Office: (402) 371-3044
- Good Neighbor Community Health Center Behavioral Health:
- Columbus Integrated Clinic: (402) 562-7500
- After-Hours Care Line: (855) 501-4676
- Heartland Counseling Services, Inc.:
- Main Office (South Sioux City): (402) 494-3337
- West Douglas Street Office (O’Neill): (402) 336-2800
- Brown County Clinic (Ainsworth): (402) 336-2800
- Siouxland Area Crisis Line (Burt, Dakota, Dixon, Thurston, and Wayne Counties): (402) 494-7655 or (877) 958-7776
- Sandhills Area Crisis Line (Boyd, Brown, Cherry, Keya Paha, and Rock Counties): (402) 336-9928 or (877) 488-9928
- Midtown Health Center Behavioral Health (Norfolk, Madison, and West Point): (402) 371-8000
- Oasis Counseling International (Norfolk and O’Neill): (402) 379-2030
- Native American Mental Health Resources in Region 4:
- Omaha Tribe of Nebraska Carl T. Curtis Health Education Center (Macy): (402) 837-5381
- Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Behavioral Health (Norfolk): (402) 371-8834 (for members of the Ponca Tribe)
- Santee Health and Wellness Center (Santee): (402) 857-2300 (for tribal members residing on the Santee Sioux Reservation)
- Winnebago Counseling Center (Winnebago): (402) 878-2231 x1303
- Winnebago Public Health Behavioral Health Department (Winnebago): (402) 878-2911
Region 5 (Southeast Nebraska) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region V Systems
- Serving Butler, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Lancaster, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, and York Counties
- Main Number: (402) 441-4343
- Crisis Line (Blue Valley Behavioral Health): (877) 409-6600
- Crisis Line (CenterPointe): (402) 475-6695
- Region 5 Network of Care Provider Listings
- Region 5 Systems Adult Network Service Listings
- Region 5 Network Outpatient Mental Health Providers:
- Associates in Counseling and Treatment (Lincoln): (402) 261-6667
- Behavioral Health Resources, LLC (Lincoln): (402) 486-1101
- Blue Valley Behavioral Health:
- Auburn Office: (402) 274-4373
- Beatrice Office: (402) 228-3386
- Crete Office: (402) 826-2000
- David City Office: (402) 367-4216
- Fairbury Office: (402) 729-2272
- Falls City Office: (402) 245-4458
- Geneva Office: (402) 759-4761
- Lincoln Office: (402) 261-4017
- Nebraska City Office: (402) 873-5505
- Pawnee City Office: (402) 245-4458
- Seward Office: (402) 643-3343
- Wahoo Office: (402) 443-4414
- York Office: (402) 362-6128
- Bryan Health Counseling Center (Lincoln): (402) 481-5991
- Catalyst Behavioral Health (Lincoln): (402) 261-8313
- CenterPointe (Lincoln): (402) 475-5161
- Fillmore County Hospital Outpatient Behavioral Health Services (Geneva): (402) 759-3192
- HopeSpoke All-Ages Outpatient Mental Health Services (Lincoln): (402) 475-7666
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center (Lincoln): (402) 489-1834
- Lincoln Behavioral Health Clinic (Lincoln): (402) 489-9959
- Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Behavioral Health Services:
- Lincoln Main Office: (402) 441-7940
- Health 360 Integrated Care Clinic (Lincoln): (402) 441-6642
- Monarch Counseling (Lincoln): (402) 489-6196
- Nebraska Mental Health Centers (Lincoln): (402) 483-6990
- Parallels (Lincoln): (402) 489-9792
- Pine Lake Behavioral Health (Lincoln): (402) 434-2730
- The Psychological Consultation Center at the University of Nebraska (Lincoln): (402) 472-2351
- Monica’s Outpatient Mental Health Services for Women (Lincoln and Beatrice): (402) 441-3768
- Stepping Stones (Lincoln): (402) 483-4571
- Native American Mental Health Resources in Region 5:
- Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition Treatment Services (Lincoln): (402) 434-7177
- Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Behavioral Health (Lincoln): (402) 438-9222 (for members of the Ponca Tribe)
Region 6 (Omaha Metro) Clinics and Crisis Lines
- Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare
- Serving Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, and Washington Counties
- Main Number: (402) 444-6573 or (800) 311-8717
- Crisis Line: (402) 717-4673
- Region 6 Network of Care Provider Listings
- Region 6 Network Service Directory
- Region 6 Contracted Outpatient Mental Health Providers:
- Capstone Behavioral Health:
- Omaha Location: (402) 614-8444
- Fremont Location: (402) 727-1592
- Charles Drew Health Center, Inc. (Omaha): (402) 451-3553
- Charles Drew Health Center at Grant Street (2915 Grant Street): (402) 810-9758
- Charles Drew Health Center at St. Richards (4320 Fort Street): (402) 558-9242
- Community Alliance (Omaha): (402) 341-5128
- Douglas County Community Mental Health Center (Omaha): (402) 444-7931
- Good Neighbor Community Health Center:
- Fremont Integrated Clinic: (402) 721-0951
- After-Hours Care Line: (855) 501-4676
- Heartland Family Service:
- Central Office (Omaha): (402) 552-7400 or (402) 553-3000
- Generations Community Center (Omaha): (402) 553-5300
- Sarpy County Office (Papillion): (402) 339-2544
- Lee Gendler Center (Council Bluffs, IA): (712) 322-1407
- Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska:
- Downtown Omaha Behavioral Health (Omaha): (402) 342-7007
- Kountze Commons (Omaha): (402) 455-9760
- Lasting Hope Recovery Center (Omaha): (402) 342-7007
- North Omaha Center for Healthy Families (Omaha) (402) 504-1733
- Blair Behavioral Health Office (Blair): (402) 426-5454
- Rupert Dunklau Center for Healthy Families (Fremont): (402) 721-1774
- Sarpy County Office (Bellevue): (402) 292-9105
- OneWorld Community Health Centers:
- OneWorld Livestock Exchange Building (Omaha): (402) 619-5314
- OneWorld Northwest (Omaha): (402) 401-6000
- OneWorld West (Omaha): (402) 505-3907
- OneWorld Bellevue (Bellevue): (402) 502-8855
- OneWorld Plattsmouth (Plattsmouth): (402) 296-2345
- OneWorld Teen and Young Adult Health Centers (Omaha): (402) 502-8880
- Additional Region 6 Network Outpatient Mental Health Providers:
- Adlerian Center (Omaha): (402) 334-3044
- Affinity Community Counseling (Omaha): (402) 991-2009
- Arbor Family Counseling (Omaha): (402) 330-0960
- Associated Counseling Group (Fremont): (402) 941-7016
- Becker Counseling Services (Omaha): (402) 983-2877
- Carter Counseling Center (Omaha): (402) 502-1716
- Catholic Charities of Omaha Behavioral Health Services (Omaha): (531) 213-7396
- Center for Holistic Development (Omaha): (402) 502-9788
- CHI Health Behavioral Care Outpatient Clinics:
- Bellevue: (402) 717-7681
- CUMC Bergan Mercy (Omaha): (402) 398-5550
- Immanuel Suite (Omaha): (402) 572-2916
- Lakeside (Omaha): (402) 758-5850
- Lasting Hope (Omaha): (402) 717-5550
- Mercy Council Bluffs (Council Bluffs, IA): (712) 328-2609
- Midlands (Papillion): (402) 827-4300
- Counseling Connections and Associates (Omaha): (402) 932-2296
- Eastern Nebraska Community Action Partnership:
- Douglas County Office (Omaha): (402) 453-5656
- Sarpy County Office (Bellevue): (402) 292-2961
- Envision Counseling Center (Omaha): (402) 571-3995
- Family Enrichment, Inc. (Omaha): (402) 391-2477
- Focus C3 (Omaha): (402) 933-4411
- Generation Hope Family Counseling and Consulting (Omaha): (402) 932-8884
- Great Plains Mental Health Associates (Omaha): (402) 614-0010
- Hill Counseling and Consulting (Omaha): (402) 871-9979
- Inroads to Recovery (Omaha): (402) 932-2248
- Methodist Hospital Community Counseling Program (Omaha): (402) 354-6891
- Methodist Fremont Health Behavioral Medicine Outpatient Clinic (Fremont): (402) 941-7245
- Nebraska Mental Health Centers (Fremont): (402) 483-6990
- Omni Inventive Care (Omaha): (402) 397-9866
- Pando Geriatrics Counseling (Omaha): (402) 321-8995
- Park Professional Group (Fremont): (4020 727-4886
- Pathfinder Support Services (Fremont): (402) 753-3858
- Psychiatric Services, PC (Omaha): (402) 399-9305
- Riggins and Associates Counseling Services (Fremont): (402) 721-8805
- Spence Faith-Based Counseling Center (Omaha): (402) 991-0611
- University of Nebraska Medical Center Behavioral Health:
- Main Number: (800) 922-0000
- Behavioral Health Connection Free Help Line: (402) 836-9292
- College of Medicine Psychiatry Department Patient Care (Omaha): (402) 552-6007
- Family Medicine at Bellevue Clinic (Bellevue): (402) 595-2275
- Elkhorn Health Center (Omaha): (402) 559-0111
- Munroe-Meyer Institute (Omaha): (402) 559-6418
- Psychiatry Clinics at Poynter Hall (Omaha): (402) 552-6007
- Psychology Clinic at Specialty Services Pavilion (Omaha): (402) 559-5031
- Native American Mental Health Resources in Region 6:
- Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition Treatment Services (Omaha): (402) 346-0902
- Ponca Tribe of Nebraska Behavioral Health (Omaha): (402) 734-5275 (for members of the Ponca Tribe)
- Capstone Behavioral Health:
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are another option for public mental health care in Nebraska. These federally-funded programs provide medical and mental health services to people in underserved communities. Their goal is to deliver high-quality coordinated care to people with complex needs and to link behavioral healthcare with primary medical care. Each FQHC accepts Medicaid and Medicare and offers sliding-scale fees to people without insurance. You can search for FQHCs using the online search tool on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
How Does North Dakota's Public Mental Health System Work?
In the 1960s, Americans started thinking differently about how to treat mental health conditions. New laws required state and local governments to establish community mental health programs as alternatives to institutionalization for people with serious mental illness. Many states’ public mental health programs trace their origins back to this period. Nebraska is no exception.
Many of the programs that are part of the public mental health system in Nebraska were founded in the late 1960s and early 1970s using funds from the Community Mental Health Centers Act, which President John F. Kennedy signed in 1963. Nebraska passed its own community mental health bill, the Nebraska Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services Act (LB302), in 1974. This law created the service regions and gave them the power to set up regional mental health networks.
However, Nebraska continued to rely heavily on its state psychiatric hospitals even after these community mental health laws were passed. It wasn’t until Nebraska passed its mental health reform law (LB1083) in 2004 that the state began to pull its focus and funding away from state inpatient institutions and to invest more heavily in community-based mental health services.
Unfortunately, despite these reforms, provider shortages and lack of funding continue to make community-based care difficult to access across much of Nebraska. Advocates, consumers, and providers have banded together to help improve access to care. In the last few years, pioneering efforts have extended high-quality mental health services even to those living in the most rural parts of Nebraska and have helped increase the number of mental health providers in Nebraska.
Public mental health services in Nebraska are managed on the state level by the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) within Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to operating the state’s three psychiatric hospitals in Lincoln, Hastings, and Norfolk, DBH coordinates with the state’s six regional behavioral health authorities and helps manage the statewide network of outpatient and community-based mental health service providers.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only 47 percent of people in Nebraska who have mental health conditions get treatment for them. One reason for the care gap is that people aren’t aware of their options for affordable mental health care, including the public mental health system. You can help change these statistics by reaching out and using your local mental health resources to get the care you need.